Scaffolding

ABSTRACT

A scaffold pole unit has means joining its ends to the respective ends of other similar pole units and also connector means for joining the said pole to another pole having its axis perpendicular or inclined relative to that of the first mentioned pole unit.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,902,817 Meir Sept. 2, 1975 SCAFFOLDING [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: Douglas Meir, Holmer Green, High UNITED STATES PATENTS Wycombe, England 3,506,090 4/1970 Beziat .1 182/179 X [73] Assignee: Agalme (General Engineers) FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Limited, Holmer Green. g 647,356 1 2 1950 United Kingdom 52/637 Wycombe, England 359,371 10/1931 United Kingdom..... I 1,048,762 8/1953 France 403/349 [22] May 1974 901,353 7/1962 United Kingdom 182/179 Appl. No.: 468,636

Foreign Application Priority Data May 21, 1973 United Kingdom 24190/73 US. Cl. 403/188; 403/349; 403/385; 182/178 Int. Cl. E04G 7/00 Field of Search 182/178, 179; 403/49, 385, 403/175, 349, 188; 52/637, 638

Primary IitamjnerAndrew V. Kundrat Attorney, Agem, 0r Firm-Fleit & Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A scaffold pole unit has means joining its ends to the respective ends of other similar pole units and also connector means for joining the said pole to another pole having its axis perpendicular or inclined relative to that of the first mentioned pole unit.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED 35F 21 75 sum 2 0F 9 PATENTED SEP 1 75 szzmuu g SCAFFOLDING The present invention relates to scaffolding, and more particularly to a new type of scaffolding which enables rapid construction of scaffold frames.

According to the present invention there is provided a scaffold pole unit comprising a scaffold pole, means for releasably joining the ends of that pole to the respective ends of other similar poles, and means for connecting that pole to another pole having its axis perpen dicular or inclined relative to the axis of the first mentioned scaffold pole.

Preferably. the means for releasably joining the ends of the first mentioned scaffold pole to the respective ends of other similar poles may compriseat least one projection at one end of the first mentioned scaffold pole for engagement with a suitably formed slot or groove at the other end of another similar pole causing engagement of the poles during relative rotation and sliding movement between the two poles. The projection may consist of a stud projecting radially outwardly from said one end of said scaffold pole, and the slot or groove may consist of a coarse pitch helical slot or groove shaped to receive the stud of an adjacent pole. More preferably the said other end of the scaffold pole may include a cuff fitting and the scaffold pole may be cylindrical having an external diameter approximately equal to the internal diameter of the cuff fitting, the helical slot or groove being formed in the cuff fitting. Conveniently said means for connecting that pole to another pole may consist of a clamp formed on the said cuff fitting. However. the connecting means may alternatively be connected anywhere along the length of the scaffold pole.

Suitably, the connecting means may comprise a twopart circular clamp having a pivotally mounted screw carrying a nut which can be tightened to lock the clamp onto a perpendicular pole.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood the following description is given, merely by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first end of one of the scaffold pole units in accordance with the present invention and also the second end of a second unit to be connected thereto;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing a scaffold frame being constructed using the units of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating an alternative embodiment of scaffold pole unit, and FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a sliding clamp to be fitted to the pole units of FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 1 shows a scaffold pole unit 1, one end of which is to be connected to the opposite end of corresponding scaffold pole unit la.

The scaffold pole unit 1 consists of a pole 2 having at one end a cuff fitting 3 on which is fixed a circular clamp consisting of a mounting bracket 4 having pivotally connected thereto a clamp arm 5 and a fastening bolt 6. When the arm 5 is closed into engagement with the bracket 4 the bolt 6 fits in a slot 7 at the free end of the clamp arm and a nut 8 and washer 9 on the threaded end 611 of the shaft serve to tighten the clamp arm 5 against the bracket 4 when the nut 8 is screwed up along the screw.

The means for connection of the pole 1 end to end with a similar pole 1a consists of a peg l0 engageable in a helical slot 3a of the cuff fitting 3.

FIG. 4 shows an additional fitment on the pole unit 1 of FIG. 1 in the form ofa sleeve 20 slidable along the pole 2 and carrying a swivel clamp 21 which is identical to the clamp of the FIG. 1 pole unit apart from a swivel pin 22 which allows the clamp to swivel about the pin axis which extends radially with respect to the pole 2.

A hexagon headed bolt 23 threadedly engaged in the sleeve 20 is tightenable against the wall of the pole 2 to hold the sleeve 20 in a predetermined location along the pole. Although it is desirable for the sleeve 20 to be locked in any position along the pole, the pole unit 1 may be designed so that at least one predetermined location is provided for the sleeve 20, for example by means of an indicator dimple on the pole 2.

The connection of scaffold pole units 1 to form a scaffold frame is carried out as follows.

Initially, a pair of upright standards" 1 1, 12 in FIG. 2 is set up using a spirit level to ensure that the standards are accurately vertical. Each standard 11 may either consist of a single pole unit 1 or a plurality of such units joined end-to-end, and may be connected to surrounding structure by any means such as conventional scaffold components or pole fittings.

It is preferred that the individual scaffold pole units of the present invention be constructed of uniform length, and the scaffold frame of FIG. 2 can then be constructed by initially connecting three ledgers, each in the form of a further scaffold pole unit 1, to extend horizontally across the gap between the standards 11 and 12. This forms a two-dimensional frame consisting of standards and ledgers. When one of the scaffold pole units 1 used as a standard has a captive sleeve 20 fitted this sleeve will in many cases be redundant but should not hinder use of that unit.

It will be appreciated that the scaffold frame may be spaces, or a three-dimensional structure in that a further similar two-dimensional assembly of standards 11, 12 etc and ledgers 1, 1a, lb etc can be placed behind those illustrated in FIG. 2.

With such a three dimensional system the front to back spacing between the frames will preferably be the same as the lateral spacing between standards of one of the two dimensional frames so as to allow interconnection by means of transoms comprising more scaffold pole units 1, extending into and out of the plane of the paper. To serve as transoms the units 1 are preferably provided with their own captive further clamp 21 as shown in FIG. 4.

Once the first ledgers 1 have been placed in position the assembly of the remainder of the frame is relatively straightforward since it requires only approximate positioning of the next standard 13 followed by rapid location of the three ledgers 10. Each of the ledgers la can be placed in position by merely locating the pegged end of the ledger unit 1a in register with the opening at the slotted end of the cuff fitting 3 and then inserting the pegged end with a twisting action to bring the circular clamp 4, 5, 6 into an approximately horizontal configuration to be clamped to the already approximately positioned standard 13. Each assembly of standards and ledgers can be finally clamped by merely tightening the respective clamping nuts 8 of the three ledger units It: to secure each of the units 1a to the standard 13 thereby locking the ledgers 1a against unscrewing rotation relative to the cuff fittings of the units 1. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the various standards 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 serve to receive the cuffed ends of the ledgers la, lb, 1c, 1d, le and If.

The various transoms (not shown) are also locked in position by clamping the fixed clamp at one end of the transom unit to either a standard or a ledger of one of the two-dimensional frames, and then connecting the slidable swivel clamp to a corresponding standard or ledger of the next two-dimensional frame. For this purpose the sleeve 20 carrying the slidable swivel clamp 21 will first have been locked against movement along the pole 2 so as to be held at a predetermined spacing from the fixed clamp, (indicated, for example, by a dimple in the pole 2 to be engaged by the grub screw of the sliding sleeve).

Further scaffold pole units will be connected between adjacent two-dimensional frames of ledgers and standards to serve as braces extending diagonally across the rectangles formed by adjacent transoms and standards. In this case the clamp 4, 5, 6 of a brace pole unit 1 will serve to hold one end of the brace unit to a ledger of one frame and the sliding fitment 21 of FIG. 4 will be used to hold a remote part of the same brace unit 1 to a ledger or a standard of the second frame or even to an interconnecting transom where the brace is to be inclined to the horizontal. Alternatively the clamp 4, 5, 6 may engage a standard and the fitment 21 may engage a standard, ledger or a transom where the brace is to be horizontal but oblique to the vertical planes which include respective transoms.

The units of the present invention are particularly convenient in that the twisting insertion action of each of the units serves to hold the unit approximately in position until the scaffolding erector is able to fasten the clamping nut 8 to secure the clamp of that unit to the associated standard.

The scaffold pole units of the present invention provide a particularly robust and easy-to-use structure in which the coarse pitch of the slot 3a enables the peg to have moved along the slot during approximately a quarter of a turn of relative rotation between the pole 2 of the adjacent units when the adjacent ends of the poles 1 and 1a abut one another. In practice, the slot 30 may be other than helical in order to provide the possibility of using a grooved configuration which more securely holds the units 1 and la in engagement. For example, the inner end of the slot 3a may extend approximately perpendicular to a generatrix of the cuff 3.

Any alternative form of twist-engaging means may be provided for connecting together the ends of the units. For example the cuff 3 may be omitted and either end of the pole may be fitted with an internal sleeve to plug into the unsleeved end of another pole, with either a radially outwardly extending peg on the sleeve engaging a helical slot in the plain pole end or a radially inwardly extending peg on the plain pole end to engage a groove or slot in the sleeve.

A further possibility would be for the peg and slot to be replaced by a candy bar formation (i.e. a helically contoured plug) which has grooves to engage one or more pimples on the socket end of the pole.

Similarly any alternative form of clamp or connec tion of pole unit 1 to a perpendicular pole may be employedv For example, the bracket 4 may be pivotally connected to the cuff 3 so as to provide for a swivel fitting. Provided the connection of the scaffold pole unit 1 to a similar non-parallelpole is possible, the pole unit 1 will be locked against unscrewing rotation.

The fixed clamp may be positioned anywhere along the length of the pole unit 1 but it is preferable for the fixed clamp to be at the same end as the groove cuff 3 so as to provide for a simple construction.

It is envisaged that the cuff 3 and circular clamp and- /or the sleeve 20 and clamp 21 could be constructed as a single drop forging as opposed to the complex structure of a conventional scaffold pole unit which may require as many as ten separate welding operations. With the unit of the present invention such a drop forged cuff fitting can be welded very simply to the end of a suitable pole 2.

It is envisaged that the system of the present invention will be designed for use such that any individual pole unit 1 will come complete with all the fittings needed to construct a basic frame of standards, ledgers, transoms and braces. This will be so if each pole unit 1 has a sliding sleeve 20 held captive thereon by peg(s)10. The units will come in standard lengths of say 7 feet and 9 feet so that they can be connected together to make up longer lengths as appropriate. Similarly special 5 feet long units may be provided with fixed nonswivel sleeve fittings spaced from the end of fitting 3 by a distance equivalent to four scaffold boards so that they will be used principally as transoms on which four such boards may be supported side by side.

A further advantage of 5 feet transoms is that they allow for an additional board to be taken inside the frame, i.e. between the wall and the nearest of the parallel two-dimensional frames since the length of the 5 foot unit exceeds the transom length required. If desired the peg 10 may be threaded and carry a nut which can be tightened down onto the sleeve once the peg has been correctly positioned within the slot 3a. Any of the pole lengths can be used for any of the possible functions of transoms, brace, standard or ledger, if desired.

We claim:

1. A scaffold pole unit comprising a scaffold pole, stud means projecting radially outwardly from one end of said scaffold pole, means defining a coarse-pitch helical slot at the other end of said scaffold pole for receiving the stud of a similar pole during relative rotation and sliding movement between the first mentioned scaffold pole and said similar scaffold pole, thread means formed on said stud, a nut for threadably engaging said thread means, and connector means adapted to connect said first mentioned scaffold pole to yet another pole having its axis perpendicular or inclined relative to the axis of the said first mentioned scaffold pole.

2. A scaffold pole unit comprising a cylindrical scaffold pole, stud means extending radially outwardly from one end of said scaffoldipole, cuff means formed on the other end of said scaffold pole and having an internal diameter approximately equal to the external diameter of said cylindrical pole, means defining a coarse-pitched helical slot in said cuff means for receiving the stud means of a similar scaffold pole during relative rotation and sliding movement between the first mentioned scaffold pole and said similar scaffold pole, and connector means adapted to connect said first mentioned scaffold pole to yet another scaffold pole having its axis perpendicular or inclined relative to the axis of said first mentioned scaffold pole.

3. A set of scaffold pole units each as forth in claim 2, wherein at least one of the units is of a length different to that of at least one other unit of the set.

4. A scaffold pole unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said connector means comprises a clamp formed on said cuff means.

5. A scaffold pole unit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said connector means consists of a clamp carried by said scaffold pole.

6. A scaffold pole unit as set forth in claim 5, wherein said clamp includes two semicircular clamp members, means pivotally interconnecting said clamp members, a screw pivotally connected to one of said clamp members, and a nut carried on said screw and adapted to be tightened to lock said clamp members together around said yet another pole.

7. A scaffold pole unit as set forth in claim 6, and including swivel pin means for securing the other of said clamp members to the first mentioned scaffold pole and allowing swivelling of the clamp relative to the said first mentioned scaffold pole.

8. A scaffold pole unit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said connector means comprises two separate releasable clamps at least one of which is fixed in position on said first mentioned scaffold pole.

9. A scaffold pole unit as set forth in claim 8, wherein one of said releasable clamps is fixed to said first mentioned scaffold pole, and including sleeve means mounting the other of said two clamps for sliding movement longitudinally of the pole, and further including means for locking said sleeve means against said sliding movement when desired.

10. A scaffold pole unit comprising a scaffold pole; projection means at one end of said pole; socket means at the other end of said pole for receiving the projection means of a similar scaffold pole; co-operable cam surface means on said projection means and said socket means, said co-operable cam surface means including helical cam surface means on at least one of said projection means and said socket means for allowing insertion of said projection means of the said similar scaffold pole into the socket means of the first mentioned scaffold pole only upon relative axial rotation of the two scaffold poles relative to one another; and connector means adapted to connect the first mentioned scaffold pole to yet another scaffold pole having its longitudinal axis perpendicular or inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the first mentioned scaffold pole; said eooperable cam surface means formed on said projection means includes a stud projecting radially outwardly therefrom, and said co-operable cam surface means formed on said socket means includes a coarse helical slot therein shaped to receive the stud of said similar 

1. A scaffold pole unit comprising a scaffold pole, stud means projecting radially outwardly from one end of said scaffold pole, means defining a coarse-pitch helical slot at the other end of said scaffold pole for receiving the stud of a similar pole during relative rotation and sliding movement between the first mentioned scaffold pole and said similar scaffold pole, thread means formed on said stud, a nut for threadably engaging said thread means, and connector means adapted to connect said first mentioned scaffold pole to yet another pole having its axis perpendicular or inclined relative to the axis of the said first mentioned scaffold pole.
 2. A scaffold pole unit comprising a cylindrical scaffold pole, stud means extending radially outwardly from one end of said scaffold pole, cuff means formed on the other end of said scaffold pole and having an internal diameter approximately equal to the external diameter of said cylindrical pole, means defining a coarse-pitched helical slot in said cuff means for receiving the stud means of a similar scaffold pole during relative rotation and sliding movement between the first mentioned scaffold pole and said similar scaffold pole, and connector means adapted to connect said first mentioned scaffold pole to yet another scaffold pole having its axis perpendicular or inclined relative to the axis of said first mentioned scaffold pole.
 3. A set of scaffold pole units each as forth in claim 2, wherein at least one of the units is of a length different to that of at least one other unit of the set.
 4. A scaffold pole unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said connector means comprises a clamp formed on said cuff means.
 5. A scaffold pole unit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said connector means consists of a clamp carried by said scaffold pole.
 6. A scaffold pole unit as set forth in claim 5, wherein said clamp includes two semicircular clamp members, means pivotally interconnecting said clamp members, a screw pivotally connected to one of said clamp members, and a nut carried on said screw and adapted to be tightened to lock said clamp members together around said yet another pole.
 7. A scaffold pole unit as set forth in claim 6, and including swivel pin means for securing the other of said clamp members to the first mentioned scaffold pole and allowing swivelling of the clamp relative to the said first mentioned scaffold pOle.
 8. A scaffold pole unit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said connector means comprises two separate releasable clamps at least one of which is fixed in position on said first mentioned scaffold pole.
 9. A scaffold pole unit as set forth in claim 8, wherein one of said releasable clamps is fixed to said first mentioned scaffold pole, and including sleeve means mounting the other of said two clamps for sliding movement longitudinally of the pole, and further including means for locking said sleeve means against said sliding movement when desired.
 10. A scaffold pole unit comprising a scaffold pole; projection means at one end of said pole; socket means at the other end of said pole for receiving the projection means of a similar scaffold pole; co-operable cam surface means on said projection means and said socket means, said co-operable cam surface means including helical cam surface means on at least one of said projection means and said socket means for allowing insertion of said projection means of the said similar scaffold pole into the socket means of the first mentioned scaffold pole only upon relative axial rotation of the two scaffold poles relative to one another; and connector means adapted to connect the first mentioned scaffold pole to yet another scaffold pole having its longitudinal axis perpendicular or inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the first mentioned scaffold pole; said co-operable cam surface means formed on said projection means includes a stud projecting radially outwardly therefrom, and said co-operable cam surface means formed on said socket means includes a coarse helical slot therein shaped to receive the stud of said similar pole. 